Hollingsworth is latest high profile departure from UK Sport
Tim Hollingsworth, the former director of communications at UK Sport, who were until recently the SJA’s long-term sponsors, is the latest high-profile departure from the elite sport funding agency.
Tim Hollingsworth: friend of the SJA, soon to take over as CEO at the British Paralympic Association
Hollingsworth, who was promoted to chief operating officer at UK Sport last September making him effectively the No3 at the agency, is to take up the job of chief exec at the British Paralympic Association, based in the same Charlotte Street offices as the British Olympic Association.
It is less than a year since UK Sport lost its CEO, John Steele, to the RFU. More recently, Ben Calveley, UK Sport’s erstwhile head of corporate and international relations, and a key member of Hollingsworth’s team, also moved to a new job at Twickenham. Prior to that, Russell Langley moved from the UK Sport press office to British Cycling.
The departures seem to be further signs that central government funding cut-backs are being felt at UK Sport, which over the past decade has done so much to prepare the groundwork for successful performances at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.
At the BPA, Hollingsworth will take over next month from the previous CEO, Phil Lane, who stepped down in February.
In a statement issued by the BPA, “Hollingsworth was chosen for his business acumen, leadership skills, in depth knowledge of the sporting landscape and vast experience in managing and influencing complex stakeholder relationships, gained through his previous roles at UK Sport, Granada Media and the Confederation of British Industry”.
During UK Sport’s generous partnership with the SJA, Hollingsworth was a regular contributor to the SJA Bulletin. In what must be one of his final columns for UK Sport, he has written about the coming summer for Paralympic sport here.
UPCOMING SJA DATES
Mon Sep 12: SJA Autumn Golf Day, Muswell Hill GC. Click here for more details and to book yourself in for the day.
Wed Dec 7: SJA 2011 British Sports Awards – Booking now open. For more details, click here.
All details subject to alteration. Keep checking sportsjournalists.co.uk for updates
